Global Migration Governance

Edited by Alexander Betts

Fills a significant gap in the existing literature--this is one of very few books on the international politics of migration

Global Migration Governance

Edited by Alexander Betts

Description

Unlike many other trans-boundary policy areas, international migration lacks coherent global governance. There is no UN migration organization and states have signed relatively few multilateral treaties on migration. Instead sovereign states generally decide their own immigration policies. However, given the growing politicization of migration and the recognition that states cannot always address migration in isolation from one another, a debate has emerged about what type of international institutions and cooperation are required to meet the challenges of international migration. Until now, though, that emerging debate on global migration governance has lacked a clear analytical understanding of what global migration governance actually is, the politics underlying
it, and the basis on which we can make claims about what 'better' migration governance might look like.

In order to address this gap, Global Migration Governance brings together a group of the world's leading experts to consider the global governance of different aspects of migration. The chapters offer an accessible introduction to the global governance of low-skilled labor migration, high-skilled labor migration, irregular migration, lifestyle migration, international travel, refugees, internally displaced persons, human trafficking and smuggling, diaspora, remittances, and root causes. Each of the chapters explores the three same broad questions: What, institutionally, is the global governance of migration in that area? Why, politically, does that type of governance exist?
How, normatively, can we ground claims about the type of global governance that should exist in that area? Collectively, the chapters enhance our understanding of the international politics of migration and set out a vision for international cooperation on migration.

Global Migration Governance

Edited by Alexander Betts

Author Information

Alexander Betts is Hedley Bull Research Fellow in International Relations at Oxford University, Director of the MacArthur Foundation-funded Global Migration Governance project, and a Fellow of Wadham College. His research focuses on the international politics of migration and refugee protection, with a geographical focus on Sub-Saharan Africa. He is the author of many books, including UNHCR: The Politics and Practice of Refugee Protection into the Twenty-First Century (with Gil Loescher and James Milner), Forced Migration and Global Politics, Protection by Persuasion, and Refugees in International Relations (with Gil Loescher, OUP 2010). His work has been published in a range of peer reviewed journals.

Contributors:

Alexander Betts, Research Fellow in International Relations, Oxford UniversityStephen Castles, Research Professor of Sociology, University of Sydney; Associate Director of the International Migration Institute (IMI), Oxford UniversityLucie Cerna, Postdoctoral Fellow of Politics, Oxford University; Research Associate at the Centre on Migration, Policy and Society (COMPAS)Franck Düvell, Senior Researcher, Centre on Migration, Policy and Society (COMPAS), Oxford UniversityAlan Gamlen, Post-Doctoral Fellow, International Migration Institute, Oxford UniversityKhalid Koser, Associate Dean, Head of the New Issues in Security Programme, and Director of the New Issues in Security Course (NISC), Geneva Centre for Security PolicyReyKoslowski, Associate Professor of Political Science and Public Policy, and Director of the Center for Policy Research Program on Border Control and Homeland Security, University of Albany, SUNYChristiane Kuptsch, Senior Specialist in Migration Policy, International Migration Programme, International Labour Organization (ILO)Anna Lindley, Lecturer in Development Studies, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of LondonGil Loescher, Visiting Professor at the Refugee Studies Centre, Oxford UniversityJames Milner, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Carleton UniversityPhilip Martin, Professor of Agriculture and Resource Economics, University of California, DavisSusan Martin, Chair in International Migration and Director of the Institute for
the Study of International Migration, Georgetown UniversityJane McAdam, Associate Professor of Law, University of New South WalesCaroline Oliver, Research Associate of Education, University of CambridgeNicholas Van Hear, Deputy Director and Senior Researcher, Centre on Migration, Policy and Society (COMPAS), Oxford University

Global Migration Governance

Edited by Alexander Betts

Reviews and Awards

"Alexander Betts is one of a handful of scholars who have mastered the complex field of Global Migration Governance. This large and impressive volume covers the topic from every conceivable angle, and it gets the difficult mix of empirical analysis and policy recommendation right. As the global conversation about migration governance continues over the coming years, this work will remain the standard reference."--Randall Hansen, Research Chair in Political Science, University of Toronto

"An invaluable contribution to migration research and studies of global governance more broadly. Drawing on useful concepts derived from International Relations, the excellent contributions draw a picture of a multilayered, fragmented and yet quite encompassing set of formal and informal governance arrangements that mirror the diversity of challenges associated with global population flows."--Sandra Lavenex, Professor of International Politics, University of Lucerne

"Betts's careful editorial work and insightful analysis allow for a truly comprehensive discussion of global migration governance ... This volume is essential reading for scholars and students of migration as well as practitioners. It is a necessary reference point for future studies and policy debates about a realistic global governance framework that effectively and humanely protects and promotes the rights of all migrants."--International Migration Review